Adjustable and collapsible easel



March 12, 1957 G. w. DlENlNG ADJUSTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE EASEL Filed Aug. 21, 1953 Fig. 2

George M! Dian/0g INVENTOR.

BY W W'zenm United States Patent Oflice 2,784,929 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 ADJUSTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE EASEL George W. Diening, Hamilton, Ohio Application August 21, 1953, Serial No. 375,670

1 Claim. (Cl. 248--35) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in easels, and the principal object of this invention is to provide an easel of the character herein described, which may be quickly and easily adjusted so as to support a book, or the like, in a proper, conveniently readable position, whereby to avoid eye strain while reading, copying, etc.

While the invention is primarily intended for supporting books and other similar material while reading or copying, in which sense the invention assumes the general form of a book holder or copy holder, it is to be understood that the use of the invention is by no means restricted to this environment and that the invention may be effectively employed in the general nature of any easel for supporting in an inclined position work of any substantially flat type.

An important feature of the invention resides in its adjustability to accommodate work of various thicknesses, while another feature of the invention resides in its collapsibility which permits the invention to be folded into a compact form while it is being carried or while it is otherwise not in use.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its efiicient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is a developed plan view of the invention 'per se;

Figure 3 is an end view of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, perspective detail illustrating the adjustable and separable connection between the front and base members of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the easel is designated generally by the reference character and embodies in its construction a base member 12, a back member 14, and a front member 16.

These various members are preferably of a frameshaped configuration and it will be observed that suitable hinges 18 connect the lower edge of the back member 14 to the rear edge of the base member 12, while similar hinges 20 connect the upper edge of the back member 14 to the upper edge of the front member 16 as shown.

The base member 12 is provided at the front edge thereof with an upstanding ledge 22, the latter being spaced forwardly from the front member 16.

Moreover, means are provided for adjustably and separably connecting the lower edge portion of the front member 16 to the base member 12, these means consisting of the provision of a pair of slots 24 in the side portions of the front member 16. These slots slidably and removably receive therein the side portions 26 of the base member 12, so that the entire device may be adjusted with respect to the spacing of the front member 16 from the ledge 22, as exemplified by the dotted lines 28 in Figure 3.

When the invention is placed in use, the book, or the like, indicated at 30 in Figure 1, is simply positioned against the front member 16 and behind the keeper edge 22 and the adjustability of the front member 16 with respect to the base member 12 will, of course, accommodate books etc. of different thicknesses.

It is preferred that the members 12, 14, 16 be fabricated from relatively stiff yet flexible material such as cardboard, resinous plastic, or the like, so that by simply twisting the slotted portions 24 of the front member 16, the front member may be disengaged from the base member 12 and the entire device conveniently folded by superposing the members 12, 14, and 16 on one another.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An adjustable easel comprising a rectangular base frame having laterally spaced side members and a rear edge, a back frame having upper and lower edges and a front frame having upper and lower edges, said back frame being hinged at its lower edge: to the rear edge of the base frame and said front frame having its upper edge hinged to the upper edge of the back frame for folding of said back and front frames over the base frame into angular upstanding relation, said front frame having horizontal slots adjacent its lower edge slidably receiving the side members of the base frame, said slots having parallel sides fitting flush against said side members, and an upstanding front ledge on said base frame cross-connecting the side members of the base frame, said front frame having a straight lower edge for flush engagement with a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATIENTS 438,185 Rosewater Oct. 14, 1890 568,090 Lindemeyer Sept. 22, 1896 1,136,487 Rouse Apr. 20, 1915 1,147,461 Stranders July 20, 1915 2,222,665 Hoenigberg Nov. 26, 1940 

